Mail-bag retainer for mail-cranes.



L. C. POULSON & A. J. BUCHANAN.

MAIL BAG RETAINER FOR MAIL CRANES.

APPUCATION FILED FEB-1. 1915.

l 144,241 Patented J une 22, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS $0., PHDTOLITHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.

FIQE.

LESTER C. POULSON AND ALEXANDRIA, J. BUCHANAN, 0F BIRDSNEST, VIRGINIA.

MAIL-BAG RETAINER FOB, MAIL-CRANES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LESTER C(Po'tinsOn and ALEXANDRIA J. BUCHANAN,citizens of the United States, residing at Birdsnest, Northamptoncounty, and State of Virginia, have invented and discovered certain newand useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Retainers for Mail-Cranes, of whichthe following is a specification.

In the use of mail cranes, difiiculty is frequently experienced insecuring the rings of the mail bags on the cranes so as to avoidliability of accidental removal by the action of the wind or of thepassing train and, at the same time, permit them to be removed withoutundue resistance whenseized by the mail catching device attached to thecar. In the use of some devices for this purpose, the rings of the mailbags are so held as to resist removal to the extent of causing unduestrain or jerk upon the crane and its injury or destruction by thealmost instantaneous removal of the bag when engaged by the mailcatching device on a rapidly moving train. Other devices provideinadequate security, permitting the ring of the mail bag to fall out onany quick accidental opening of the retaining device, and the bag to bereleased through accidental jars and vibrations caused either by thewind or passing trains.

The object of our said invention is to provide an attachment forsecuring the mail bags to said cranes in such a manner that they may bereadily removed and offer but slight resistance to the mail catchingapparatus, at the same time providing absolute security againstaccidental removal, thereby guarding against injury to, and loss of mailsacks, with the consequent disadvantage and annoyance, all as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1is a side elevation of the top end of a mail crane with the mail bagholding arms equipped with our improved securing devices, and Fig. 2 aside elevation of one of the mail bag ring holders equipped with oursecuring device, on an enlarged scale.-

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the mast of the mailcrane, B the upper arm, and O the lower arm. These parts are of a typein common use and no Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1915..

Application filed February 1, 1915. Serial No. 5,517.

special description thereof need be made herein.

Each of the arms B and C is provided at its outer end'with a mail bagring receiving arm 10, formed of a rod of a right-angular formation, thevertical part extending through a vertical perforation near the outerend ofthe arm and having a nut 11 on its end with a spring 12 interposedbe tween the nut and the adjacent face of the arm. On each of thehorizontal branches of said arms 10, we form ears or brackets 13,between which we pivot a retaining or clamping jaw 14:, the outer end ofwhich bears upon the adjacent surface of the arm 10, and the other endof which is perforated and slides over a pin 15, a spring 16 beingmounted on said pin 15, interposed between said arm 10 and the adjacentside of the clamping jaw 14. The outer end of the clamping jaw 14 isformed to rest for a considerable distance upon the surface of the arm10, and, from the point of contact with said arm 10, as at point 17, itis tapered gradually back to a point near its pivot in the brackets 13.The mail bag ring 18 is adapted to be embraced by said curved part andretained between said curved part and the adjacent surface of the arm10. The surface of arm 10, on which ring 18 slides, is left straight andsmooth without any depressions or other formations to retain said ringor interfere with its removal therefrom. The ring is retained solely bythe long tapered curve in the jaw 14, and, by reason of the long contactbetween said jaw 14 and arm 10, any accidental vibration of said jawwill not. permit said ring 18 to escape free from arm 10, but the jawwill catch said ring, if it should become accidentally opened, beforethe ring is beyond the tapered portion and, by the action of the spring16, will cause said ring to slide back into its normal position. Thenthe mail bags are caught by the mail catching apparatus on the car, theresistance to the removal of the ring is very slight, the arms 10 beingadapted to swing on their vertical shanks in the direction of the movingtrain and the pull from the mail catching device easily removing themail bag from connection with the crane.

Having thus fully described our sa d 1nvention, what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A mail bag retaining device for mall cranes comprising a swiveled armformed adapted to slide, a bracket secured thereto to extend outwardlytherefrom, a ring-see curing lever pivoted in said bracket to extendeach way therefrom the outer end being formed at an angle tapering fromits pivot gradually toward the adjacent surface of said swiveled armuntil it contacts therewith and from the point of contact extending fora considerable distance parallel and in contact with said surface,whereby a long contact is provided between said two parts, and the otherend of said pivoted lever being formed to extend back from said bracketfor a distance, and a coiled spring mounted between said lever and saidarm, whereby the outer ends thereof are held in contact and theaccidental or inadvertent escape of the-mail bag ring from the retainingdevice prevented substantially as set forth, 7

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals atWashington, D. C., this 26th day of January A. 1)., nineteen hundred andfifteen.

LESTER C. POULSON. ALEXANDRIA J .i BUCHANAN. Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, A. M. PARKINs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 13.0?

